Rechargeable battery system and method of controlling power consumption

Abstract

A rechargeable battery system includes: a first battery pack; and a second battery pack in a daisy chain connection with the first battery pack to form a communication path, the second battery pack consuming a larger power for communication than a power consumed in the first battery pack for communication. A power consumed in the second battery pack for an additional process other than communication is smaller than power consumed in the first battery pack for the additional process.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rechargeable battery system, comprising:
 a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and 
 a managing unit that manages the first battery pack and the second battery pack, the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery pack being connected in series in the stated order to form a daisy chain connection for communication to be performed among the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery back, and the second battery pack consuming a larger power for the communication than a power consumed in the first battery pack for the communication, wherein 
 a power consumed in the second battery pack for an additional process other than the communication is smaller than a power consumed in the first battery pack for the additional process. 
 
     
     
       2. The rechargeable battery system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the management unit derives information related to a power that should be consumed for the additional process in the first battery pack and the second battery pack, by referring to a volume of data communicated in the first battery pack and the second battery pack. 
 
     
     
       3. The rechargeable battery system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first battery pack and the second battery pack is each provided with a light emitting diode (LED) for indicating a status, 
 the additional process is lighting of the LED, and 
 a power consumed in the second battery pack to light the LED is smaller than that of the first battery pack. 
 
     
     
       4. The rechargeable battery system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first battery pack and the second battery pack turn the LED off during communication and lights the LED when communication is not proceeding. 
 
     
     
       5. The rechargeable battery system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 information related to a power consumed in each of the first battery pack and the second battery pack for the additional process is predefined depending on a position of connection in the daisy chain connection, and a power consumed for the additional process is derived based on the information. 
 
     
     
       6. A rechargeable battery system comprising:
 a first battery pack and a second battery pack; and 
 a managing unit that manages the first battery pack and the second battery pack, the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery pack being connected in series in the stated order to form a daisy chain connection for communication to be performed among the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery back, and a volume of communication data in the second battery pack being larger than that of the first battery pack, wherein 
 transmission time consumed in the second battery pack for the communication is shorter than transmission time consumed in the first battery pack for the communication. 
 
     
     
       7. A power consumption control method adapted for a system including a first battery pack; a second battery pack; and a managing unit that manages the first battery pack and the second battery pack, the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery pack being connected in series in the stated order to form a daisy chain connection for communication to be performed among the managing unit, the first battery pack, and the second battery back,
 wherein a power consumed in the second battery pack for an additional process other than the communication is smaller than a power consumed in the first battery pack for the additional process.